Method and means of producing synchronism between the rotation of a controlling-machine and the rotation of one or more electrically-driven machines.



E. L. ALERTOURNE. METHOD AND MEANS OF PRODUCING SYNGHRONISM BETWEEN THE RO'IjATION OF A (JON TROLLIN G MACHINE AND 'ldE ROTATION OF ONE OR MORE ELEGTRIOALLY DRIVEN MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 24, 1909.'

988,792. I Patented Ap r.4,1911.

E. L. A. LERTOU'RNE. METHOD AND MEANS OF PRODUCING SYNCHRONISM BETWEEN THE ROTATION OF A CONTROLLING MACHINE AND THE ROTATION OF ONE OR MORE ELECTRICALLY DRIVEN MACHINES. APPLICATION TILED AUG. 24, 1909. I

988,792. Patented Apr. 4, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

part b which is constructed of insulating material; a, is a shaft driven by the kinematograph, b, is the fixed part of the re ceiver B, 0 is a brush fixed by means of a metal rod, al to the shaft a the parts a, 0 d form the rotary part of the receiver; 1

2 3, 4 etc., are the contacts of the receiver,

and these contacts are connected by electrical conductors to the corresponding contacts of the distribirt'er.

In Fig. 1 the current supplied at F flows through the metallic mass (not shown in the drawing) of the phonograph, shaft a and brush 0 to the contacts 1 and 1,, brush 0 and to the motor C and rheostat D (which is regulated in such a manner that a strong current will actuate the .motor of the kinematograph) and finally to the terminalG. The kinematograph working too fast will actuate the shaft, a ,'l3OO rapidly and the brush 0 will arrive at the contact 2,.before the brush 0 has arrived at contact 2.. The result'is that there is no current in contact 2 so that the motor of the kinematograph slackens in speed and would stop if the brush 0 did not continue its course. -The latter however soon supplies current to the contacts 2 and 2 andthe motor, starts again, still too fast; .it slackens again in speed at the next contact and so on. Thedependent machine is thus moved forward by successive impulses that is, it advances step by step. If to the hereinbefore described apparatus,

1 now provide a second brush 0 (Fig. 1)

which is electrically connected through a resistance with the shaft a, and is besides rigidly fixed by means of an insulating material tothe said shaft a so as-to form a rotating entity'a c 0 then as soon as the too active brush 0 passes over, the next inoperative contact 2, the brush O arrivesat the contact 1 which still receives the current, this current will pass through the new circuit F, a, c, 1, 1 0 a C, D,-Gr. But the resistancecorresponding to the brush 0 reduces this current below that which will maintain the synchronous workings! the kinematograph will tend, instead of stopping as in the preceding case to slacken its speed. Since the resistance introduced through 0 in the circuit of the motor can and are electrically connected to shaft a namely 0 through a resistance 0 through a greater resistance and a directly. As in all seer/92 the figures, 0 is the brush corresponding to synchronous Working. The rheostat D is itself regulated in such a way that its resistance, added to the resistance corresponding to the brush, 0,, constitutes the resistance convenient to the synchronism of the speeds. The result is that when this synchronism is obtained 0 is always on the contact supplying the current and it itself pushes the de-,

pendent machine fromone position to the next.- Suppose the several apparatus be in the position shown in Fig. 2; then when the kinematograph through any accidental cause such as a diminution of resistance to the pull on the film, or a temporary increase in the potential of the source of electricity, etc,

tends to run on ahead the shaft a, carries the brush, 0, on to the neXt contact 2, which is inoperative. The brush a, as in the'preceding case (Fig. 1 second case) receives a current which is weakened by the resistance connected to the brush, 0,, and the kinematograph slackens in speed. But when on the contrary the kinematograph tends to lag behind, the current arrives at contact 2 be .forethe 'brush 0;, has left the said contact. Now as this brush is connected directly 2'. e.

without a resistance to the shaft a the move ment of the kinematograph is accelerated. The effect of the brushes 0,, 0 is thus to throw back the brush 0 on to the operative contact as soon asit tends to leave the same. f

The brush a, is not necessarily connected withouta' resistance to the shaft a and any resistance so provided as well as those connected to the brushes "0 ,0 maybe made as little different from one another as desired for the purpose of rendering the accidental shocks practically inappreciable.

In Fig. 3 the resistances consist of incandescent lamps. The brush 0, connected to a lamp havinga certain ohmic resistance, corresponds to. synchronous working. The

brush 0, to which the current passes through a lamp of greater resistance, produces the I slackening of thespeed. The brush a con;

nected to a lamp of lesser resistance causes the acceleration and the brush 0 which is connected directly to the motor. causes the starting thereof. In this figure the circuits controlled by the brushes instead of beingelectrically connected to the shaft a which actuates the rotary part or set of brushes is connected by means of a brush and a ring directly to the motor itself. This is a mere modification of detail. Obviously a lamp may be replaced by a group of lamps for obtaining; the desired ohmic resistance, and the same results might be obtained if 'instead of replacing the resistance by lamps, other electrical signaling devices were introduced in the circuits such as those of the preceding figures the resistances being retained or dispensed with, according to the case. It is however, not absolutely necessary establish signals inall-the circuits of the system; one signal placed in the principal circuit'may even appear .sufiicient, for .in-

stance it may be'placed between Dand G where it will show that current is flowing or not into the motor.. The signaling devices may. also be introduced -into the,'already known apparatus in which, like the present invention, the current of the motor is delivered into circults of different resistances for obtaining automaticsynchronisni.

Fig. 4 shows sections of Fig. 3 .on the lines ay and w 'y H is the wall of the phonograph through which passes ;the shaft,

' a, driven byithe motion thereof, e which is not shown in Fig. 3, is a tubular part fixed on the wall H of the phonograph;.e serves as a bearing for the shafta and as an axle for the part b of the distributor.- The conducting wires leading to" the contacts 12, 3, etc., are made sufiiciently. long to allow of the limited movement of b. on its center.

-A strong.sp'ri ng f maintains the position of kinematograph which is compelled-to follow the part b the rotation ofwliich takes place only when an accident not due to the work ingof the machines has destroyed the synchronism. For instance, if the needle of the phonograph has jumped intoa track next to the right track and the kinematograph is thereby leftbehind, it will befsufllcient nierely to rotate the part b by the handle a:

'in a direct-ion contrary to the arrows shown in Fig. 3. Then thepart 6 going to meet the 'brushc the current will remain a shorter lengthflof time on the contacts soth'at the will rotate faster. Itis obvious that the rotation with rough friction of the rod (land the brush 0 supported thereby aroundthe shaft awould give. the same result. In the same-figure the flexibleshaft g driven by the kinemato'grap'h K. actuates the shaft a, whose bearing 'is situated in the part b, which is fixed, by any suitable means to'a convenient part and which besides the contacts 1,; 2 3 4, 5 6 is provided with a central ring it electrically connected to the motor C. A part j of insulating material most conveniently shaped as a disk is keyed on shaft 0;, and is fitted with the brushes 0,,

. 0 0 and-thecorresponding lamps. Another brush 70, connects the circuits with the ring Thepath of the current is through- F, shaft a, d, c,- 1, 1 0 incandescent lamp k 72 C D" G. and it may be dispensed with, and the connection between the motor C and the incandescent lamps may be simply established through the mass of the kinematograph iK and the flexible shaft-g.

Similarly, part b, andbrush 0, ofthe dis-'- tributer, the part b, and the brush or the set of brushes ofthe receiver may be rendered movable on their center for the purpose of restoring the destroyed synchronism.

Fig. 5 shows a distributer having a number' of contacts different from the number of contacts of the receiver. In the preceding examples, the machines to be synchronized must drive the shafts a and a in such a manner'that when they are in synchronism theshafts' a and a be-in concordance of revolution, namely to each revolution of a, v

l there must correspond a revolution of a This equality in number of revolutionsis.

no-t'indispensable. As shown in Fig. 5 the contacts 1 2, 3 of the receiver are electrically connected with contacts 12 3 of the distributer, and the contacts 1 and 4:, 2 and 5, 3 and 6 of the latter are connected together through the insulating mass Z The result is that when 0, makes one revolution, (1 will make two revolutions because each time the. controlling machine advances the distance of one contact the dependent machinewill advance the same distance; to

- make both machines work in synchronism it is merely necessary that the means driving a shall cause this shaft to rotate for instance twice as fast as in the case ofFig. 2 all theother speeds remaining the same. Other relations may be employed between the number of contacts taking account of the electri cal communications to'be established and chines to be synchronized, that drive the shafts a and 'a I .the relative speeds of the shafts of'the ma- -Fig. '5 ,shows that the resistances can be controlledby thedistributer as well as by the receiver., 0 corresponds to synchronous working; when 0 runs-too fast it arrives at of both apparatus; H is the" wall of the phonograph through which the shaft a, passes. lie the plate receiving the disks; m is the axle of said plate; at represents also i the metallic mass ..of. the phonograph connected onone hand to the shaft or by con ing wire to the pivot n of the stop-lever that is provided with 'metal irod p which maintains the plate I in the position of rest. The" contact 9 is electrically connected to the terminal F so that when the stop lever p in releasing the plate Z allows the phonograph to be set in motion, electrical connection is established between 12 and 9 through lever p. The friction of p on must be suflicient toovercoine the attraction of the spring r.

The stop lever 7 may be arranged to act on,

any part of the phonograph other than the plate and the phonograph itself may be a cylinder phonograph without departing from 115" tinuityand on the other hand by'a condu'ctmotion.

this principle. Instead of being placed on the same rod, the stop lever and the interrupter may be arranged near one another and connected by one and theZ same operating rod. Thc;.interrupter may alsd be separate from the stop lever and placed at any convenient point of the circuit, near the kinematograph for instance. The starting of the phonograph will thus be produced after a signal or automatically by the withdrawal of the stop lever by means of an electromagnet. Fig. 6 shows an arrangement of this kind' In this figure the same references indicate the same parts as in Fig. 5. The interrupter L sends out a current which causes the motor C to start and which pass ing at the same time the electromagnet 8 draws back the brake lever 10 which constitutes its armature and keeps this lever in the drawn back position so long as the motor a and consequently the kinematograph are in From the parts a and a onward the connections of Fig. 6 are the same as in the preceding figures. In the same manner as the devices shown in the other figures, the several apparatus shown in Figs. 5 and 6 relating to the starting of the phonograph may be applied to other machines.

I nature of my said invention/I declare that Although the apparatus shown in Fig. 4 allows of restoring the d stroyed synchronism and in consequence of the use of belts for driving the rotating parts of the distributer and receiver it is preferred to em-' ploy non-slipping gearing such as toothed wheels pitch chains and the like,

It is to be understood that the various apparatus may be constructed difi'erently, that the rotating-parts may be rendered stationary and vice-versa, that the contacts as well as the regulating circuits may be different in number from those stated, that the resistances and signals may be stationary instead of being placed on rotating parts, etc., and

t that thehereinbetore described examples are to serve solely by way of illustration without limiting the present invention.

Having nowdescribed and ascertained the what I claim is:

1. The combination of ac'ontrolling ma chine, a rotary distributer driven by said controlling machine, a dependent machine driven by an electric motor, a rotary re- 5- ceiver driven by said dependent machine,

electricalcircuits in which are comprised the successivecontact's of the distributer and the successive contacts of the receiver, said electrical circuits being in series with-the motor,

6 resistances of different valuesautomatieally included in the said circuits and said resistances permitting an electric current to flow through said electric circuits as specified.

2. The combination of a controlling mam chine, arotary distributer driven by saidcontrolling machine, a dependent machlne see,

driven by an electric motor, a rotary receiver driven by said dependent machine, electrical circuits in which are included the successive contacts of the distributer and the successive contacts ot the receiver, a resistance permitdriving the motor too rapidly, the e fiect of which being therefore to continually push the brush of the receiver onto the following contact which receives no current as specified.

3. The combination of a controlling ma- -chine, a rotary distributer driven by said controlling machine, a dependent machine driven by an electric motor, a rotary receiver driven by said dependent machine, electrical circuits in which are included the successive contacts of the distributer and the successive contacts of the receiver, a first resistance permitting the passage in the cir cuits of a current driving the motor too slowly, a second resistance permitting the passage in the circuits of a current driving the motor too rapidly, the effect of the latter bein therefore to continuously push the brush oi the receiver onto the following con tact which receives the current governed by the first resistance as specified.

4. The combination of a controlling machine, a rotary distributer driven by said controlling machine, a dependent machine driven by an electric motor,'a rotary re ceiver driven byisaid dependent machine, electrical'circuits in which are included the successive contacts of the distributer and the successive contactsof the receiver, a resistance affording the passage .of a current giving the right working for synchronism av resistance permitting the passage of a current drivingthe motor too rapidly, a resistance permitting the passage of a current driving-the motor too slowly, said resistances being automatically included in the elec trical circuits, the effect of both last resistances being to push the rotary part of the receiver or to retain it outhe contact receiving the right current through the first resistance as specified.

5. The combination of a, controlling machine,. a rotary distributer driven by said cont-rolling machine, a dependent machine driven by an electric motor, a rotary receiver driven by said dependent machine,

" of an electric current through them as specified. v v l 6. The combination of a controlling machine, a rotary distributer driven by said controlling machine, said rotary distributer having its contacts movable by hand around ting the passage in the circuits of a current electrical circuits in which are included the their axis whereby the restoration ofthe.

' synchronism is obtained when destroyed, a

dependent machine driven by an electric 'motor, a rotary receiver driven by said dependent machine, electrical circuits in which are included the successive contacts of thedistributer and the successive, contacts of the receiver, resistances of diiferent'values automatically included in the said circuits and said resistances permitting the passage of an electric. current through saidelectric circuits as specified.

7. The combination of a controlling machine, a rotary distributer driven by said controlling machine, said rotary distributer having its set of brushes movable by hand around their axis, a dependent :machine driven by an electric motor, a rotary receiver driven by said dependent machine, electrical circuits .inwhich are comprisedthe successive contactsof the distributer and the successive contacts of the receiver, resistances of different values automatically included "in the said circuits and said resistances per mitting the passage of an electric current through said electric circuits-as specified.

8. The combination of acontrolling machine, a rotary distributer driven by thesaid controlling machine ,a dependent machine.

driven byan electric motor, a rotary receiver driven by the dependent machine, the contacts of said receiver being movable by hand around their axis whereby the restoration of destroyed synchronism isobtained, electrical circuits in which are included .the successive contacts of the distributer and the v successive contacts of the receiver, resistances of diiierent valuesautomatically in-' vtacts of the distributer and the successive contacts of thereceiver, resistances of different values automatically included in the said circuits and said resistances permitting the passage "of an'electric current through said electric circuits as specified. 10. The combination of a controlling machine, a rotary distributer driven. by said.

controlling machine, a dependent machine driven by an electrlc-motor, a recelver driven by said dependent machine,the receiver having a number of contacts, electr cal circnlts in which are comprised the successive contacts of the distributer and the successive contacts of the receiver, resistances of different values automatically included in the said circuits and. said resistances permitting the passage of an electriclcurrent through. said electric circuits.

11. The combination of a. cont-rolling ma chine, a.rotary distributer driven by said controlling mach ne a dependent machine driven by an electric: motor, .arota-ry re-- ceiver driven by said dependent .;1ri achine,

said-receiver having a number of contacts difl'erent from the distributer, electrical cir.- cults n which are comprised the successive contacts of the-distributer and the. successive contacts of the receiver, resistances of different values automatically. included in the said circuits and said resistances permitting the passage of an electric current through said electric circuits as specified.

12.--The combination of a controlling, machine,.a rotary distributer driven by the said controlling machine, the stationary part'of said distributer being the. contacts, a dependent machine driven by an electric mo-,

tor, a rotary receiver driven by said dependent machine, electrical circuits in which are includedthe successive contacts of the distributerand the successive contacts of the receiver, resistances of different values automatically included in the said circuits and said resistances permitting the passage' of an electric'current through said electric circuits as specified;

13. The combination of a controlling machine, a rotary distributer driven by said controlling machine a dependent machine driven by an electric motor, a rotary receiver driven by said dependent machine, .the sta tionary part of the'receiver being the set of brushes, electrical circuits in which are included the successive-contacts of the distributer and the successive contacts of the receiver, resistances of different values automatically included in the said circuits and said resistances permitting the passage of an electric current through .said electric circuits as specified. v

14. The combination of a controlling machine, a rotarydistr-ibuterdriven by said controlling machine, a dependent machine driven by an electric motor, a rotary receiver driven by said dependent machine, electrical circuits in which are included the successive contacts of the distributer and the successive contacts of the receiver, resistances of different values said resistances being carried by one-0f said rotary elements and automatically permitting thepassage of anelectric current through themselves and the electrical circuits as specified.

15. The combination of controlling machine, a dependent machine driven by an electric motor, a rotary receiver driven by said dependent machine, electrical circuits in which are included the successive contacts of the'distributer and the successive a controlling machine, a .rotary distributer driven -by said circuits as specified. Y

16. The combination of a controlling machine the starting thereof being governed by a stop lever, a rotary distributer driven by said controlling machine, a dependent machine driven by an electric motor, the interrupter of the circuit Of said motor being connected with the stop ldver of the controlling machine, a rotary receiver driven by said dependent machine, electrical circuits in Which are included the successive contacts of the distributer and of the receivers, resistances of difierent values automatically included in the said circuits, said resistances permitting the passage of an electric current through said electric circuits as specified.

17. The combination of a controlling masear/ea chine with a stop brake lever of Which the motion is governed by an electromagnet, a rotary distributer driven by said controlling machine, a dependent machine driven by an electric motor, a rotary receiver'driven by said dependent motor, electrical circuits in which are included the successive contacts of the distributer and of the receiver, resistances of different values automatically included in the circuits, said resistances permitting the passage of an electric current through said electric circuits and the interrupter of current controlling at the same time the starting and stopping of the motor of the dependent machine and the 'motion of the stop brake lever of said controlling machine as specified.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

EUGENE LOUIS AMEDEE LERTOURNEi Witnesses: i

H. C. CoxE,

EDWARD MAY. 

